Study Shows Potential to Transform Nuclear Waste into Less Harmful Materials

Experts from the Technical University of Munich and TÜV have revealed that radioactive waste from nuclear power plants can be converted into significantly less harmful substances. This finding addresses the ongoing challenge of nuclear waste disposal, indicating that such transformation is both technically feasible and economically viable.

The study, commissioned by the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND), explores the possibility of establishing a transmutation facility at one of Germany's decommissioned nuclear power plants, which currently serve as interim storage sites for nuclear waste.

Transmutation involves a specialized process that aims to reduce the radiation intensity of nuclear waste and drastically shorten its hazardous lifespan. This technique involves bombarding the atomic nuclei of spent fuel rods with neutrons, leading to the decay of these nuclei into less dangerous elements.

In addition to the primary objective of waste transformation, the project also allows for the recovery of valuable materials from spent nuclear fuel, including uranium and precious metals like rhodium and ruthenium, which are essential in various industrial applications.

Byproducts of the transmutation process include noble gases such as xenon and krypton, as well as isotopes like cesium and strontium, which have applications in medicine and research. Moreover, the heat generated during the process could be utilized for district heating systems.

The proposed transmutation facility would likely be based on technology from the Swiss startup Transmutex and could be situated in one of the 16 existing nuclear waste interim storage sites in Germany. This approach would prevent the need for transporting nuclear waste across the country.

Germany currently has two central interim storage facilities in Gorleben and Ahaus, in addition to 14 decentralized sites, many of which are located at or near former nuclear power plants. Special facilities, such as those in Jülich and Lubmin, also play a unique role in the country's nuclear waste management strategy.

According to the SPRIND agency, the initial demonstration facility would be highly profitable, with an estimated investment of around EUR1.5 billion and annual operating costs of approximately EUR115 million. The revenue generated from the recovered materials, the disposal of nuclear waste, and the sale of process heat would far exceed the initial costs. Additionally, constructing the facility at a former nuclear power plant site could reduce building expenses by about 30%.

The study indicates that non-recyclable waste from the analyzed nuclear power plant could be transformed within the facility's minimum operational lifespan of 50 years. This process would reduce the radioactive lifespan of the waste from one million years to around 800 years.